Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm the reasoning behind delaying construction of the proposed extended care facility for Hay River? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to find out that the extended care facility identified for Hay River has been delayed to 20272028 came as a great disappointment not only to me but to the residents of Hay River and to those persons and families in need of the facility for loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, when I heard of the decision to delay the project, it did not come as a surprise. I knew the reasons used would be multiple and would touch on insurance coverage, loss of utilities, and flooding that occurred in the immediate area where the building is to be located. Mr. Speaker, upon visiting the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have no further questions.

Thank you, Madam Chair. With the number of schools there that you know, that's within the department and some of the work that I see happening, one of the concerns I always have is barrierfree access in our designs and whether you know, whether all schools, even if they're aged, you know, if they're, you know, being retrofitted to ensure that we have barrierfree access for all children and employees. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to present to the House Bill 58, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I understand that, you know, the waitlist, it might be short but in six years, you know, I might be on it. So, Mr. Speaker, if the project is delayed in 20272028, will the Minister confirm what additional funds will be provided to the Hay River Health and Social Services to expand home care supports and services while we are waiting for a facility? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to go back to the extended care facilities and questions for the Minister of Health.

Mr. Speaker, construction costs for the extended care facility will likely move upwards with a sixyear delay. Will the Minister confirm if her department has considered this in their decision when delaying the project and any idea of what that cost may be? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that answer; however, I think moving to another site is one option but my understanding as well is that, you know, we're looking this government's looking at mitigation measures to ensure flooding doesn't happen. We're raising roads in the community and things like that. So there are other options.

So, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm if consideration has been given to reposition the building on the site and tying it into the existing Woodland Manor facility? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when this government is looking to delay projects, it has to prioritize those that impact the most vulnerable. For Hay River, that is the extended care facility that supports seniors and persons who require 24/7 care. This facility is needed and cannot be delayed until 20272028.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Health confirm when the demolition of the HH Williams Memorial Hospital will be completed? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, the other thing, you know, when I think of schools, you know, I think of, you know, a healthy learning environment; I think of, you know, healthy children and, you know, that improves learning capability, you know yeah, improves learning, I guess, for children and, you know, it allows them maybe to be role models and mentors for others what may, you know, be kind of on the border of, you know, not sure, you know, what life's all about. But, you know, so one of the things that, you know, I hear sometimes in some of the communities is that lack of, you know...